Date of Conferral

10-3-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Sue Bell

Abstract

Falls among older adults in long-term care facilities constitute a pressing concern, affecting 30% to 40% of residents each year due to physiological changes associated with aging. Such incidents precipitated injuries, extended hospitalizations, elevated healthcare costs, and increased the potential for legal liabilities. This project investigated the effect of a structured educational intervention on nursing staff knowledge of fall prevention strategies in a long-term care facility where the fall rate of 3.4% exceeded the state average of 2.5% and the national average of 3.3%. The project explored the question: In a long-term care facility, does staff education increase staff knowledge of evidence-based practices for reducing falls? Employing a pretest/posttest design, 15 participants in a 3-module curriculum delivered over several weeks, encompassing universal fall precautions, falls risk assessments, and nursing plans and interventions for fall prevention. Using resources such as the STEADI and TIPS toolkits, the modules, delivered through PowerPoint presentations, printed handouts, practical demonstrations, and interactive discussions, emphasized individual fall risk identification and personalized care planning. Findings revealed an improvement in knowledge, with an average pretest score of 52.86% rising to 84.29% posttest, a 31.43% increase. Participants demonstrated proficiency in recognizing environmental hazards, resident-specific risk factors, and greater confidence in planning individualized fall prevention strategies. An education evaluation survey found strong approval, with all participants reporting they were very satisfied or satisfied. The project promoted social change at the clinical site through fall reduction education to advance resident safety and care quality.

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